Memphis schools tax proposal back on ballot Tuesday

Voters in the Memphis Community Schools district will see some familiar language for a sinking fund tax request on Tuesday's ballot.

The district is taking its second stab at asking voters to support a 1 mill tax proposal after it was rejected 263 to 309 in May. Sinking funds are limited to funding building repairs, renovations and other upgrades to school buildings.

Superintendent Brad Gudme said the majority of the plan remains largely unchanged with slated projects ranging from an improved, secure entrance at the district’s junior/senior high school — safety being something he added to be their first priority — to parking lot improvements and more.

Since May, he said a group of parents has also taken the lead on helping spread information with lawn signs, mailings, and awareness on social media. With that, he hopes things go better on Tuesday.

“If our parents vote, we should have no problem passing it," Gudme said. “But getting to the polls is always the problem, especially in the summer.”

The school district encompasses the city of Memphis, which sits on the border of St. Clair and Macomb counties, Wales and Riley townships and part of Casco and Richmond townships.

The proposed tax would be levied for five years, generating $230,589 and costing the owner of a $100,000 home about $50 a year.

Other potential improvements the sinking fund tax would assist in funding include replacing wooden bleachers at the district’s elementary schools, more energy-efficient lighting, upgrading technology and roofing and boiler systems repairs.

If the tax proposal fails again, Gudme said officials will have to go back to the school board before they would likely begin “polling the community to find out what they weren’t in favor of,” later re-evaluating the projects and determining how to move forward.

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.